Mounting system adapted to extend and retract in a straight line

ABSTRACT

A mount system for a monitor extends and retracts the monitor. The mount system includes a first arm pivotably coupled to a second arm so that that the monitor extends and retracts in a substantially straight line. One or more motors may be incorporated into the mount system to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor through a remote control.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to a mount system that is adapted to couple to a back side of a monitor and extend the monitor in a straight line or perpendicularly from a reference plane.

2. Background of the Invention

Flat panel monitors such as computer monitors, LCD, plasma, slim televisions, and the like (collectively referred to as “monitor(s)”) are becoming popular because they can be mounted onto a wall to save floor space and for their aesthetically pleasing appearance. In many applications, a monitor is attached to a wall with a mount bracket between the monitor and the wall. In order to reposition the monitor, an articulating mount is used to attach the monitor to the wall. The articulating mounts that are available today, however, are difficult to use because they have a tendency to move laterally left and right rather than moving straight in and out of the wall as the monitor is pushed and pulled, respectively. In situations where the monitor is recessed into a wall or a cabinet, the lateral movement of the monitor adds to the difficulty of extending and retracting the monitor from its recessed position. Moreover, with manual mounts, in order to reposition the monitor, the viewer needs to walk over to the monitor and physically move the monitor to a new position. Accordingly, there is a need to be able to extend and retract a monitor substantially straight or perpendicularly from the wall.

INVENTION SUMMARY

This invention is directed to a mount system adapted to extend and retract a monitor substantially perpendicular from the wall. The mount system includes a first guiding member having a longitudinal axis; a first arm having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end adapted to pivot along a first pivot axis and move along the longitudinal axis of the first guiding member, the first distal end having a second pivot axis, and the first distal end adapted to couple to the back side of the monitor and pivot the monitor along the second pivot axis; and a second arm having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end adapted to pivot about a third pivot axis, the third pivot axis being in a fixed position, and the second distal end adapted to pivotably couple to the first arm about a fourth pivot axis located about a midpoint between the first proximal end and the first distal end such that the first distal end extends and retracts relative to the second proximal end substantially along a straight line. The mount system may include one or more motors to reposition the monitor through a remote control.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mount system along X, Y, and Z coordinates.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the mount system of FIG. 1 along a XY plane.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the mount system of FIG. 1 along a XY plane.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the mount system of FIG. 1 along a XZ plane.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the mount system of FIG. 1 along an X plane in a partially extended position.

FIG. 6 shows a view of the mount system of FIG. 1 along an X plane in an extended position.

FIG. 7 shows a control system of the mount system.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram representing the pivot axes of the mount system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mount system 10 in reference to X, Y, and Z coordinates. The mount system 10 includes a first arm 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The proximal end 14 may be pivotably coupled to a sleeve 18 adapted to move along one or more guiding members 20 and 22. The two ends of the guiding members 20 and 22 may be supported by first set of anchors 24, which are attached to a base plate 26. This allows the distal end 14 to move along a longitudinal axis 27 of the guiding members 20 and 24 and pivot about a pivot axis 29. The distal end 16 has a pivot axis 31 that is adapted to couple to the back side of the monitor, which will be described in more detail below.

The mount system 10 may include a second arm 28 and a third arm 30. The second arm 28 may be a mirror image of the third arm 30 so that only the second arm 28 will be discussed in detail in this specification. The first arm 12 may be provided between the second and third arms 28 and 30. The second arm 28 may have a proximal end 32 and a distal end 34. The distal end 34 may be pivotably coupled to the first arm 12 along a midpoint 36 between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16. This allows the distal end 34 to pivot about a pivot axis 38, which is substantially aligned with the midpoint 36. The proximal end 32 may be pivotably coupled to the base plate 26 through second set of anchors 40. This allows the proximal end 32 to pivot about a pivot axis 42. A spacer 44 may be provided between the first and second arms 12 and 28 to provide a gap between the two arms.

The first and second arms 12 and 28 may be sized so that the distance between the pivot axes 29 and 31 is about two times the distance between the pivot axes 28 and 42. With the pivot axis 38 substantially along the midpoint between the pivot axes 29 and 31, the pivot axis 31 may extend and retract substantially perpendicular relative to the base plate 26. Note that the two guiding members 20 and 22 support the weight of the monitor attached to the distal end 16. Moreover, the second and third arms 28 and 30 support the first arm 12 about its center to support the weight of the monitor to minimize the distal end 16 from sagging due to the weight of the monitor.

FIG. 2 shows the mount system 10 along the XY coordinates. In this example, negative (−) Y axis may represent the direction of the gravitational force. It is within the scope of this invention to have the gravitational force along other axis such as X or Z, in either in the positive or negative direction. The mount system 10 may be manually operated or automated. To extend and retract mount system 10 through a motorized action, one or more motors may be provided along the pivot axes 29, 38 and/or 42. For example, FIG. 2 show a first motor 200 coupled to the distal end 34 of the second arm 28 to pivot the second arm 28 relative to the first arm 12 along the pivot axis 38. This causes the proximal end 14 to slide along the guiding members 20 and 22 and the second arm 28 to pivot along the pivot axis 42, which in turn causes the distal end 16 to extend or retract relative to the pivot axis 42 substantially along a straight line or perpendicularly relative to the base plate 26.

FIG. 2 shows a second motor 202 coupled to the distal end 16 of the first arm 12. The distal end may be adapted to couple to a back side of a monitor, as discussed in more detail below, and activating the second motor 202 may cause the monitor to swivel left and right. Note that the length of the two guiding members 20 and 22 may be shortened so that they are less than half (½) the distance of the first arm 12. This allows the first arm 12 to fully retract against the base plate 26 so that the depth of the mount system 10 may be minimized.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment to extend and retract the distal end 16 of the first arm 12. In this example, a screw 300 may be provided in place of the one of the guiding members 20 and 22. The sleeve 302 may have a threaded opening adapted to receive the screw 300. A motor 306 may be coupled to the screw 300 to rotate the screw 300, which in turn causes the sleeve 302 to move along the longitudinal axis 304 of the screw 300. This causes the proximal end 14 to slide or move along the longitudinal axis 304 of the screw 300, which in turn causes the distal end 16 to extend and retract as discussed above. A number of openings 308 may be provided on the base plate 26 to attach the base plate 26 to a wall.

FIG. 4 shows the mount system 10 in a retracted position between a monitor 400 and a wall 402 along XZ plane. In this example, the negative (−) Y axis may represent the direction of the gravitational force. A bracket 404 may be provided to attach the back side 402 of the monitor 400 to the distal end 16 of the first arm 12.

FIG. 5 shows the mount system 10 in a partially extended position, where the distal end 16 extends and retracts in a perpendicular manner relative to the wall 402. In this example, the first motor 200 may be mechanically coupled to the proximal end 32 of the second arm 28 to extend and retract the first arm 12. The second motor 202 may be provide on the distal end 16 to pivot the monitor 400 along the XZ plane.

FIG. 6 shows the mount system 10 in fully extended position. In this example, the first motor 200 may be mechanically coupled to the proximal end 14 of the first arm 12 to move the proximal end 14 along the guiding members 20 and 22, which in turn extends and retracts the first arm 12. Note that the second arm 28 supports the first arm 12 about its midpoint to minimize the distal end 16 from sagging along the—Y direction due to the weigh to of the monitor 400.

FIG. 7 shows the mount system 10 including a control system 700 for adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor. The control system 700 includes a remote control 702 having one or more control buttons 704 to activate the mount system 10 to reposition the monitor. The control buttons 704 may include a left swivel button 706, a right swivel button 708, an extension button 710, and a retraction button 712. Activating one of the buttons 704 causes the remote control 702 to transmit a control signal 714, which is received by a receiver 716. The receiver 716 relays the control signal 714 to a processor 718 to control one or more motors 200 and 202 to extend or retract the first arm 12 and/or swivel the monitor accordingly. For example, an activation of the extension button 710 causes the processor 718 to activate the first motor 200 to extend the first arm 12; and activation of the right swivel button 708 causes the processor 718 to activate the second motor to swivel the monitor to the right side.

The processor 718 may be linked to a memory 720 to store predetermined positions. The remote control 702 may have one or more preset buttons 722 and 724 such that activation of one of these buttons cause the processor 718 to activate one or more motors 200 and 202 to reposition the monitor to one of the predetermined positions stored in the memory 720.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram 800 representing the relationship amongst the first, second, third, and fourth pivot axes of the mount system 10 along the XZ plane. The schematic diagram 800 shows the first pivot axis 29 adapted to move along the X-axis aligned with the position of the third pivot axis 42, the second pivot axis 31 free to move substantially along the Z-axis; the third pivot axis 42 adapted to rotate in that fixed position; and the fourth pivot axis 38 between the first and second axes 29 and 31. A variable “A” may represent the distance between the first and fourth pivot axes 29 and 38; variable “B” may represent the distance between the fourth and second pivot axes 38 and 31; and variable “C” may represent the distance between the third and fourth pivot axes 42 and 38. In order for the second pivot axis 31 to move substantially along the Z-axis, as the first pivot axis moves along the X-axis, the variables A, B, and C may have the following relationship, where C²=A×B. Such a mechanism is also referred to as the Scott Russell linkage. In the example described above the distances A, B, and C are equal to each other (A=B=C), however, other variable lengths may be used in accordance with the relationship discussed above.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. 

1. A mount system adapted to reposition a monitor, the monitor having a back side, the mount system comprising: a first guiding member having a longitudinal axis; a first arm having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end adapted to pivot along a first pivot axis and move along the longitudinal axis of the first guiding member, the first distal end having a second pivot axis, and the first distal end adapted to couple to the back side of the monitor and pivot the monitor along the second pivot axis; a second arm having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end adapted to pivot about a third pivot axis, the third pivot axis being in a fixed position, and the second distal end adapted to pivotably couple to the first arm about a fourth pivot axis located about a midpoint between the first and second pivot axes such that the first distal end extends and retracts relative to the second proximal end substantially along a straight line. a first motor adapted to extend and retract the first distal end of the first arm by providing motorized action along one of the first, third, and fourth pivot axes; and a second motor adapted to pivot the monitor by providing motorized action along the second pivot axis.
 2. The mount system according to claim 1, including a second guiding member having a longitudinal axis, the first proximal end of the first arm adapted to pivot along the first pivot axis and move along the longitudinal axis of the second guiding member.
 3. The mount system according to claim 1, including a base plate, the second proximal end pivotably coupled to the base plate along the third pivot axis, and the first guiding member coupled to the base plate such that the longitudinal axis of the guiding member is substantially perpendicular to the third pivot axis.
 4. The mount system according to claim 1, including a third arm having a third proximal end and a third distal end, the first arm between the second and third arms, the third proximal end adapted to pivot about the third pivot axis, and the third distal end adapted to pivotably couple to the first arm about the fourth pivot axis.
 5. The mount system according to claim 1, where a distance between the first and second pivot axes is about two times a distance between the third and fourth pivot axes.
 6. The mount system according to claim 1, including a spacer between the second distal end and the first arm.
 7. The mount system according to claim 1, where the first motor is coupled to the second distal end to provide motorized action along the fourth pivot axis to pivot the second distal end relative to the first arm to extend or retract the first distal end of the first arm.
 8. The mount system according to claim 1, where the first, second, third, and fourth axes are parallel with a vertical axis.
 9. The mount system according to claim 1, including a remote control, a receiver, and a processor, the remote control having at least one control button to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor and activation of the at least one control button causes the remote control to send a control signal to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor, the receiver adapted to receive the control signal, the processor linked to the receiver and adapted to activate at least one of the first and second motors to based on the control signal to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor.
 10. A mount system adapted to reposition a monitor, the monitor having a back side, the mount system comprising: a screw having a longitudinal axis; a sleeve adapted to receive the screw and move along the longitudinal axis of the screw; a first arm having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end adapted to pivotably couple to the sleeve along a first pivot axis and move along the longitudinal axis of the screw, the first distal end having a second pivot axis, and the first distal end adapted to couple to the back side of the monitor and pivot the monitor along the second pivot axis; a second arm having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end adapted to pivot about a third pivot axis, the third pivot axis being in a fixed position, and the second distal end adapted to pivotably couple to the first arm about a fourth pivot axis located about a midpoint between the first and second pivot axes such that the first distal end extends and retracts relative to the second proximal end substantially along a straight line; a first motor adapted to rotate the screw to move the first proximal end along the longitudinal axis of the screw to extend and retract the first distal end of the first arm; and a second motor adapted to pivot the monitor by providing motorized action along the second pivot axis.
 11. The mount system according to claim 1, including a first guiding member having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the screw, the first proximal end of the first arm adapted to pivot along the first pivot axis and move along the longitudinal axis of the second guiding member.
 12. The mount system according to claim 11, including a base plate, the second proximal end pivotably coupled to the base plate along the third pivot axis, and the screw and first guiding member coupled to the base plate such that the longitudinal axis of the guiding member is substantially perpendicular to the third pivot axis.
 13. The mount system according to claim 10, including a third arm having a third proximal end and a third distal end, the first arm between the second and third arms, the third proximal end adapted to pivot about the third pivot axis, and the third distal end adapted to pivotably couple to the first arm about the fourth pivot axis.
 14. The mount system according to claim 10, where a distance between the first and second pivot axes is about two times a distance between the third and fourth pivot axes.
 15. The mount system according to claim 10, where the first, second, third, and fourth axes are parallel with a vertical axis.
 16. The mount system according to claim 10, including a remote control, a receiver, and a processor, the remote control having at least one control button to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor and activation of the at least one control button causes the remote control to send a control signal to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor, the receiver adapted to receive the control signal, the processor linked to the receiver and adapted to activate at least one of the first and second motors to based on the control signal to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor.
 17. A mount system adapted to reposition a monitor, the monitor having a back side, the motorized mounting system comprising: a first guiding member having a longitudinal axis; a sleeve adapted to receive the first guiding member and move along the longitudinal axis of the first guiding member; a first arm having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end adapted to pivotably couple to the sleeve and pivot along a first pivot axis, the first distal end having a second pivot axis, and the first distal end adapted to couple to the back side of the monitor and swivel the monitor along the second pivot axis that is aligned with a vertical axis; and a second arm having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end adapted to pivot about a third pivot axis, the third pivot axis being in a fixed position, and the second distal end adapted to pivotably couple to the first arm about a fourth pivot axis located about a midpoint between the first and second pivot axes such that the first distal end extends and retracts relative to the second proximal end substantially along a straight line.
 18. The mount system according to claim 17, including a first motor adapted to extend and retract the first distal end of the first arm by providing motorized action along one of the first, third, and fourth pivot axes; and a second motor adapted to pivot the monitor by providing motorized action along the second pivot axis.
 19. The mount system according to claim 17, where the first guiding member is a screw such that rotation of the screw causes the sleeve to move along the longitudinal axis of the first guiding member, and including a first motor adapted to rotate the screw to extend and retract the first distal end, and a second motor adapted to pivot the monitor by providing motorized action along the second pivot axis.
 20. The mount system according to claim 17, including a second guiding member having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the first guiding member, the first proximal end of the first arm adapted to pivot along the first pivot axis and move along the longitudinal axis of the second guiding member. 